Status for green card replacement is no action taken
March 15, 2020 12:58 AM Subscribe
My SO has been a permanent resident in the US for a while. Her card came up for renewal last year and she completed the renewal paperwork and biometrics on time.
Since then, nothing has happened. We check online regularly. We're close to the year mark. Is this normal? Should we be concerned? As far as we're aware, her country isn't a political hot zone but it is underdeveloped. With the current situation, we don't know if she might lose her job and how getting a new one would work. Yup, not our lawyer, etc.
Since then, nothing has happened. We check online regularly. We're close to the year mark. Is this normal? Should we be concerned? As far as we're aware, her country isn't a political hot zone but it is underdeveloped. With the current situation, we don't know if she might lose her job and how getting a new one would work. Yup, not our lawyer, etc.
If her I-551 stamp is expiring or expired and your USCIS office is within a couple of hours, she might make a fastpass appointment to get a new stamp and maaaybe see where things are.
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 7:54 AM on March 15, 2020 [1 favorite]
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 7:54 AM on March 15, 2020 [1 favorite]
This happened to me for removing restrictions from a marriage green card a couple years ago. In normal conditions, she should go into the office. Appointments are released two weeks out and are pretty easy to get. They took away my green card and letter, then stamped my passport with some handwritten sections. This felt sketchy but I did use it to travel internationally. I got the actual green card four or five months after the appointment.
I would make the appointment now. It'll be for two weeks from now when we'll know a lot more about the pandemic situation.
posted by carolr at 8:02 AM on March 15, 2020
I would make the appointment now. It'll be for two weeks from now when we'll know a lot more about the pandemic situation.
posted by carolr at 8:02 AM on March 15, 2020
My SO and I had a related experience last year (although she was trying and ultimately succeeded) in getting her green card renewed a few months early. Part of this effort included a talk with an immigration lawyer who emphasized that just because the card expires, doesn't mean you're no longer a legal resident -- that status is granted for life. It's not (as some might think) the same as driving with an expired license - she won't be deported just because the card has expired.
posted by Rash at 10:25 AM on March 15, 2020
posted by Rash at 10:25 AM on March 15, 2020
This is me, kind of. Mine was lost in the post when they first sent it, so I had to apply for a replacement. And this is totally normal.
First: make sure you have an I-551 passport stamp if you might want to travel abroad (and watch your connections when travelling; secondary screening is required when entering the US and takes an unpredictable amount of time).
Second: mine has been pending for a year. Recently, it went past the enquiry date and I submitted the 'out of normal time' request on their website. I received a canned response saying 'no it isn't' - they expect to respond 'within the specified processing time' - which apart from the website estimates they've already missed doesn't seem to exist, so that didn't make much sense. I tried phoning to ask what that means but I didn't get a better answer. They're busy, I understand, but I was hoping for something a bit more informative. Ah well, there are worse times to be stuck without a travel document.
In summary: you're fine, and this happens to us all. Once the inquiry date has passed, you can and should ask what's going on. But don't make any plans.
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 12:13 PM on March 15, 2020
First: make sure you have an I-551 passport stamp if you might want to travel abroad (and watch your connections when travelling; secondary screening is required when entering the US and takes an unpredictable amount of time).
Second: mine has been pending for a year. Recently, it went past the enquiry date and I submitted the 'out of normal time' request on their website. I received a canned response saying 'no it isn't' - they expect to respond 'within the specified processing time' - which apart from the website estimates they've already missed doesn't seem to exist, so that didn't make much sense. I tried phoning to ask what that means but I didn't get a better answer. They're busy, I understand, but I was hoping for something a bit more informative. Ah well, there are worse times to be stuck without a travel document.
In summary: you're fine, and this happens to us all. Once the inquiry date has passed, you can and should ask what's going on. But don't make any plans.
posted by How much is that froggie in the window at 12:13 PM on March 15, 2020
« Older Best water purifying pitcher Chlorine smell NYC... | Looking for cook books for beginners Newer »
This thread is closed to new comments.
I don't have experience with this particular form, but I've always found the VisaJourney forums a useful resource for US immigration/visa questions.
(I'm currently waiting for my naturalization application to be approved, and anticipating a delay due to COVID. A lot of people had their interview/oath ceremonies canceled).
posted by cozenedindigo at 4:34 AM on March 15, 2020